Stade seal away victory

Clermont Auvergne 12 Stade Francais 16

Stade Francais dug deep to steal a crucial Heineken Cup away victory at Parc des Sports Marcel-Michelin today, despite losing two players to the sin bin.

With Welsh points machine Stephen Jones sitting out the game with an injured ankle, Clermont fullback Anthony Floch took over the kicking duties and immediately sprayed three of his first four penalty attempts wide.

Stade’s Argentinian fullback Ignacio Corleto jinked through several ineffective tackles to score the game’s opening try, but the visitors lost winger Christophe Dominici to the sin bin and Floch made them pay with goals at regular intervals.

A huge Alain Penaud dropped goal gave Stade a 13-12 lead early in the second half – despite team-mate Remy Martin sitting in the bin – and the visitors showed grit to keep an increasingly desperate Clermont side at bay.

A late Juan Hernandez penalty goal gave Stade some much-needed breathing space, and the 11,000 home fans were left to rue Floch’s early misses at goal.